It started as an appeal of a Supreme Court ruling that would have sent Elvis Myers to prison for life following a conviction of Murder in November 2007. And what was already a major case now has greater implications that can affect various other rulings made by Justice Troadio Gonzalez. Attorney Hubert Elrington would have […]
As we report on a now frequent basis, another murder case fell apart today in the Supreme Court when the main witness that was to provide crucial testimony for the prosecution, could not be located. Crown Counsel Trenia Young entered a nolle prosequi indicating that the prosecution could not proceed with the trial of twenty-five […]
It initially appeared as a case of a drug deal gone bad. Police claimed it had in its possession a Ruger brand pistol and two pounds of cocaine taken from the vehicle of one of the accused men in the Orange Walk incident. But today in court, the case fell apart and the two accused […]
Less than a month ago, two foreign vessels sailing around San Pedro Ambergris Caye were moored for several days near delicate patches of reef. The investigation into that incident involving the Dreamer and Imagine is still ongoing but an incident which occurred two years ago has finally been resolved in court. On May second, 2007, […]
A seventy year old carpenter finds himself behind bars awaiting trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a four year old minor on May twenty-ninth. Emmanuel Gabourel, also known as “Dawdi” appeared in court this morning and was charged with the Aggravated Assault of the minor. Gabourel pleaded not guilty. The prosecution objected to bail on the […]
The case of Sanitation Enterprises Limited versus the Belize City Council of over a one point seven million dollar debt ended in court today. Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram delivered her seven page ruling, and there was neither a winner nor a loser. The judgment stipulates that CitCo is to pay S.E.L. the one point seven million […]
Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram heard submissions today in a case brought against the Belize City Council and Attorney General by Sanitation Enterprises Limited (S.E.L.). Although S.E.L. went out of business and sold its contracts to Belize Maintenance Limited, CitCo still owes the garbage collection company one point seven million dollars. And because of CitCo’s debt to […]
The crime was committed almost four years ago and today, it took more than five hours of deliberation for a jury to find twenty-four year old Brian Herrera guilty of Murder. But he won’t know his fate until June ninth since Judge Oswell Legall has deferred sentencing to allow Herrera’s attorney, Liesje Barrow Chung, time […]
Meanwhile, thirty year old businessman, Jin Tian Chen, pleaded guilty today to a charge of Handling Stolen Goods. Jin was found in possession of a laptop computer that was stolen from Ombudsman Cynthia Pitts’ office. Magistrate Rachel Montejo fined him one thousand, five hundred dollars and gave him until July thirtieth to pay or serve […]
A fourteen year old student from Anglican Cathedral College appeared in Family Court today to answer charges of Attempted Murder, Wounding and Use of Deadly Means of Harm. However, because one of the charges includes a firearm offence the minor has been remanded to boot camp until July first when he reappears in court. The […]
Also in court, Magistrate Dorothy Flowers handed down a five year sentence to thirty-three year old Glenroy Clarke. He is charged with breaking into the Mahogany Heights home of accountant Delmar Lanza, last November. Clarke reportedly pried open a burglar-barred window to enter the house and stole electronics, and silverware valued at almost four thousand […]
And twenty-nine year old Leon Perez, a fisherman, was today found guilty of two counts of Carnal Knowledge against a fifteen year old girl. The jury of five women and four men deliberated for almost three hours before delivering their guilty verdict. The charges date back to 2007 and when the complainant took the stand, […]
A case brought against the government by the Independence Village Water Board wound up today in the court of Justice Samuel Awich… and it’s not good news for G.O.B. Justice Awich ruled in favour of Dwight Neal, who was removed from his post as chair of the water board only five months after his appointment. […]
We reported this past Monday that twenty-two year old Darrington Lauriano was acquitted of a charge of murder but Lauriano was back in Court today for the crime of wounding. The accused took a guilty plea and was fined five hundred dollars by Magistrate Albert Hoare and was given until June twentieth to pay up. […]
Also in the courts, Haulze Street laborer Mark Gentle, turned twenty-nine today and got a good birthday present when he appeared in the court of Justice Oswell Legall. A nolle prosequi was entered by Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez freeing Gentle of the Use of Deadly Means of Harm charge. The case fell through because the […]
But while Saida’s murder is yet to be solved, in the Supreme Court today, twenty-two year old Darrington Lauriano was found not guilty of a Murder charge in the fatal shooting of Kareem “Butchie” Broaster on January fifteenth, 2004. It took the jury of ten women and two men about four hours to return the […]
An unemployed man was in court this morning accused with aggravated assault of a fourteen year old child. Forty-seven year old Mario Zelaya Jr. pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the number of sexual offences against minors have become prevalent. But Zelaya’s attorney convinced the magistrate […]
Justice Adolph Lucas handed down a sentence of ten years to Allen James today for the robbery of the Sen Sen Store on Daly Street. Last week, we reported that the twenty eight year old man beat a charge of attempted murder but was found guilty of robbery. During the trial James brought to court […]
A man accused of murder walked free today when the case for the prosecution fell apart. Twenty-seven year old Delford Slusher spent two years in jail but Justice Adolph Lucas directed that he be released in the Supreme Court. Slusher, also known as “Peter”, was accused of fatally shooting Jose Noe Barrow but the chief […]
Also in the courts, the tables have turned on a prison officer and he now finds himself behind bars. Deayroll Dougal appeared before Magristrate Edd P. Usher today charged with Aggravated Assault with a firearm. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded into custody until June fifteenth. Dougal is charged in connection with a report […]
Also in court, Magistrate Sharon Fraser threw the book at twenty-two year old Brandon Taylor, who is charged in connection with an Attempted Robbery at Western Union. Police believe Taylor was one of several persons involved in the crime and he now faces fourteen offences including Attempted Murder and Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Use of Deadly […]
A single mother from Armenia Village on the Hummingbird Highway is taking the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Gaspar Vega, to court after he cancelled a lease to the land she has occupied since 1997. Four lawyers appeared in court this morning when the case got underway. In addition to Vega, Edna […]
With Witz removed, the remaining defendant is Minister Vega. But while Hubert Elrington will have to wait to how the next ruling affects his client, Joaquina Smith, both Mckoy for Samayoa and Douglas Carr for Vega expressed confidence. Douglas Carr, Attorney for Minister of Lands “We did nothing unlawful or there was no abuse of […]
A U.S. national who was charged for last week’s attempted robbery of San Hill Gas Station Grocery Store is in more trouble tonight and is now facing a string of additional charges. On Monday the book was thrown at eighteen year old Nathaniel Bowen Jr. and he was slapped with twelve new charges: three counts […]
A father and son appeared in Magistrates’ Court today along with two other accused, and were promptly charged with Aggravated Burglary. Wayne Herrera senior and junior, Leon Yorke and Martin Ramirez all pleaded not guilty to the offence. While Wayne junior, Yorke and Ramirez were offered bail of four thousand dollars and had their case […]
